Instantaneous water-heater.



G. A. SHOOK.

INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1909.

Patented Ma 30, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'; Wag? G. A. SHOOK. INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER. I APPLIGATION FILEDJAN. 4, 1009.

Patented May 30, 1911.

WITNESSE G. A. SHOUK. INSTAN'IANEOUF4 WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. i. 1909.

Patented May 30, 1911.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

mverrron 1&

II' I aiw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. SHOOK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO PITTSBURG WATER HEATER COMPANY, OF PITTSIB'Q'RG',PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

INSTANTANEOUS warnnpnnarnnt Patented May 30, 1911.

implication filed January 4, 1909. Serial No. 470,679.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SHOCK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inInstantaneous Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to instantaneous water heaters havingadual controlof the gas supply and particularly to the mechanism for automaticallygoverning the gas a supply. The invention has. for its principal obects; the provision of a simplified apparatus of the character specifiedwherein a single valve for controlling the gas supply replaces theplurality of independent valves heretofore considered necessary for uthis purpose; the provision of a device of the character specifiedhaving asingle gas valve wherein the valve may be operated by thethermostatic controlling means independent of the water valve and may beclosed thereby in case the water valve is accidentally stuck open; andthe provision of an improved controllingdevice for the gasvalve whereinthe closure of the gas valve in case of accident to the water valve, ismore positive than that of the thermostatically controlled .gas valvesheretofore employed. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the heater,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlar ed detail partly in section, of the controllingmechanism,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustratin g a modified form ofcontrolling mech anism, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the valve shown in the upper portion ofFigure 3 with its piston in the position occupied when the outlet fromthe water isyopen, the section being taken at right angles to that ofFigure 4. v I

Heretofore it has been customary in instantaneous water heaters toprovide two independent gas valves, one of which is conv trolled fromthe motor valve, or water valve as it ismorecommonly termed, and theother valve is controlled by the thermostat, such general constructionbeing illustrated in copending application Serial No. 457,383. I

have found that one of these gas valves may that the controlling bedispensed with, and means therefor may be so arranged that all theadvantages incident to the two valve construction are retained, andother advantages not present. in the two-valve construction secured, inaddition to the general simglification and oheapening of the apparatusno to the use of one valve instead of two.

That portion of the'apparatus in which the departure of this applicationparticularly resides is illustrated in the lowered portion of Figure 3,but in order that the relation of this structure to the, general heaterconstruction may be clear, the entire heater is illustrated and willreference being had to the co-pending a plication 457,383 heretoforereferred to, if) a detail description of that portion of the apparatusshown and described but not claimed. a 2

Referring first to the general arrangement of parts as shown in Figures1, 2 and 3; 1 is the casing of the heater; 2, 3 and 4a are the uppersets" ofooils of the boiler; 5 is the lower inverted set of coils, thelower coil of which set is connected to the lower coil of the set 3 bymeans of the pipe 6; 7 is the thermostat casing, which casingcommunicates with the upper coil of the set 5 by means of the pipe 8,and is provided with an outlet 9 for the hot water which is to bedistributed 10 is the gas inlet pipe provided with "the usually manuallyoperated valve 11; 12 is the gas valve casing, the valve 13 of which isautomatically controlled from the thermostat and water valve in a mannerto be hereinafter described; 14: is the gas pipe leading from the valvecasing to the burners; 15 is the water su ply pipe leading to theautomatic water va ve casing 16; 17 is the piston valve in the casing;18 is a waterpipe leading from the valve casing 16 to the casing 19 ofthe controlling check valve 20; 21 is a pipe leading from the easing 19to the upper coil of the set 2; 22 is a tube leading from the upperportion of the casing 19 to the upper portion of the thermostat casing7; and 23 is a pressure regube described,

lating valye whose construction may be of i any approved type and isimmaterial in so far as-"tho invention of this application is concerned.From the foregoing the general operation of the heater will be apparentand "valve easing. I rod 39 carrying at its rear end the cap 4.0

and thence up through the pipe 18 to the check valve 20, moving suchvalve to the position of Figure 5, so that the water passes through thepipe 21 into the heater. The water then circulates down through thecoils 2, 3 and 4, the connection 6, up through the coil 5, theconnection 8, the thermostat casing 7, and to the outlet 9. When thefaucet in the outlet 9 is closed, the valve 17 moves back to theposition indicated in Figure 3, and the check valve 20 moves down andseats itself as indicated in this figure. When the valve 20 is in thislower position, a circulation occurs from the lower coil 5 to the casing7 and thence through the connection 22, valve casing 19, and connection21 to the top coil of the boiler.

The construction wherein the invention of this present applicationparticularly resides will now be described in detail, reference beinghad to Figure 3 of the drawings. The thermostat here shown is of theordinary type, and comprises thecopperor brass tube 2 1 closed at itsupper end, and the porcelain rod 25 fitting the tube and provided at itslower endwith the usual metal cap 26 from which the levers ated. Thelower end of the lever 28 is providedwith a hole for the passage of thestem 29 of the gas valve 13, which stem 29 is longitudinally adjustablewith respect to the valve 13 by means of the set screw 30. The collar 31is also secured slidably upon the stem 29, and carries thereon anadjustable collar 32 against which a spring 33 bears. The end of thestem 29 is provided with a cap 34, and the thermostat and its levers areso adjusted that when the temperature of the water in the thermostatcasing 7 .is below, the maximum for which the device is set, say belowone hundred and fifty degrees, the lower end of the lever 28 occupiesabout the position indicated in Figure 3 with a space between the cap 34and the end of the lever, so that the stem 29 and the gas valve 13carried thereby may be normally operated from the water valve withoutinterference with the thermostatic controlling means. lVhen the outlet 9is closed the piston 17 of the water valve is held in the positionindicated in Figure 3 by means of the spring 35 which spring bears atits rear end against the screw cap 36 of the casing 37. The spring 35thus serves the double function of'holding the casing 37 in. the piston17 in its position and maintaining rearmost position. The casing 37 isprovided at its front end with the tube 38 which passes through thestuffing box of the Mounted in the tube 38 is the 27 and 28'are oper-'without altering The use of the tube 38 obviates any danger of stickingwhich might possibly casing by means of the spring 41. Thegas I valve 13is held normally in closed position by means of the springslQ, and thecombined strength of this spring and the spring 33 is somewhat greaterthan that of the spring 41. The strength of the spring 42 alone is lessthan that of either the springs 11 or 35.

The combined action of the water valve and thermostatic controllingmeans in connection with the gas valve is as follows. If the outlet fromthe heater is; pressure upon the left hand end ton 17 over-balances thepressure side because of the reduction the tube 18'and the piston isforced to the right compressing the spring 35 and moving the rod 39 sothat its front end engages the cap 3%, thus opening permitting a flow ofgas to the burners. It now the outlet from the heater is closed and thepiston 17 accidentally hand position, the temperature of the water inthe boiler and in the thermostatic casing 7 risesto a point above deviceis set, and the lever 28 under the influence of the spring 33 V carryingwith it the cap 34:,which in'turn forces the rod 39 to the leftcompressing the spring 41 at the other end of such rod. This compressionof the spring 41 is assured by reason of the fact that the combinedstrength of the spring 12 and sp1'ing33 is greater than that of thespring 41 as heretofore pointed out. In this manner the oleof thepisthat for which'the moves to the left opened the on the other ofpressure m the-gas valve 13 and E stic'ksin its right less of theclosure of the piston valve 17.

It will be seen that the actuation of the gas valve by the water valveis not in anywise interfered with by the thermostatic controlling meansduring the normal operation of the apparatus. In addition to acting as asafety device under the condition above set forth when thermostaticmeans also acts as a controlling device when the Water valve isactingnormally without sticking, and in case the water rises above apredetermined temperature the flow of gas is throttled or entirely cutoff the position of the water valve.

otherwise occur if no tube were used, and the rod 39 had to be packed inorder to prevent leakage. The casing 37 is made water tight so that therod 39 may fit as loosely asis desired in the tube 38. It will also beseen that under the condition of non-closure of the water valve as abovedescribed, avery positive and secure closing of the gas valve is securedby reason of the fact that the pressure of the powerful spring 33augments that of the weaker spring 42 in closing the gas valve. Thisvery much reduces the danger of imperfect closure of the gas the watervalve sticks open, the,

movethe lever 43 to the valve due to foreign matter upon the seat, asthetwo springs are sufticlent to cause a closure-1n cases -where the spring42 alone would 'closethe valve sotimperfectly as to permit thepassagerofa large amount of gas. It will alsobe seen by comparison ofmanner showmand the spring 44 takes the ,placeof the spring33 in theother form of a device. The; adjustment of the springqi'saccomplishedqbyy means ofthe set screw-45,

* o'f the spring 't tbearfs.

I 47: is used inside :the

"engaging the collar- 46 against which the end .a Only a single springwhich spring corres ends to the spring 35 in the other form'o :device,and the spring correspondingito the spring 37 is mounted at the end ofthe rod 48. This spring 49 is inclosed by a casing 50, the front end ofwhich is adapted to engage thelhead 51 carried by the stem 52 of the gasvalve 53. It will be seen thatjthe sprin 44 is adapted to left, and thatthe spring 49 permits the; gasvalve to be'closed without moving thepiston of the water valve to the left in case it should become .stuck;The otherfeatures of construction are substantially similar to thoseshown'in Fig 3, and theirfunctions andpoperation will be clear Withoutfurther description.

"The construction of the controllingicheek valve' is illustrated mostclearly in Figures -3'and 5, and although this structure forms a portionof the subject-matter claimed inthe co-pending vapplication heretoforereferred -t-o, I will briefly describe the device in order 45 that thedescription of the apparatus shown a may be complete. By reference tothe figures referred to, it will be seen that the easing 19 is providedwith an inlet passage 54 and a pair of circulation passages 55 and 56,leading respectively to the connection 21 to the upper coil of theboiler, and to the connection '22 leading toithe thermostat casing 7.Screw threaded into the, end of the cas ing 19, is a bushing57, andslidable inthis bushing is the piston valve having the two heads -58 and59. The bushing is also provided with two .setsof ports and (31 leadingrespectively to the passages and 56. The piston valve is held normallyin the position shown inwFigure 8 with its head 1 coveringthe feed port54 by means of the spring The valve parts occupy the posi tionshown inFigure 3, when no water is being'drawn throughithe outlet 9. With theparts in this position water from the invertstatic c'ont-rolling rmeansis curved in" the waters valve casing,

A return circulation to the pipe 63, and a continuous double circulationmay be maintained, a partof the waterfrom the thermostat casing passingup through 3 the outlet i9 and around through thesystem andback to thereturn pipe 63, while an other portion passes through the connection 22to the casing 19 and thence back to the upper coil of the boiler. If theoutlet through the pipe 9 is opened, thepiston valve will assumetheposition shown in Fig-f ure5 by reason of the unbalanced pressure on theopposite sides of such valve, and the uptlow through the inlet pipe 18.Whenthe parts are in this position the water from the pipe 18 willpassthrough the valve casing 19 and out through the passage 55 and connection 21 to the upper coil of the boiler, and thence ,throughfthecoils of the boiler, the thermostat casing 7, and, the outlet pipe 9.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following i 1. Thecombination i n an instantaneous waterheater having water valve andthermostatic controlling means and a gas valve, of springmeans betweenthe opera-tingmemher of the water valve and gas valve, and a connectionbetween the gas valve andther-, mostatic controlling means adapted tocoin-v press the spring means and operate the gas valve when the watervalve is open in case the temperature of the water rises above apredetermined point.

2. The combination in an instantaneous water heater having watervalveand thermostatic controlling means and a gas valve, of spring meansbetween the operatlng member of the water valve and gas valve, and aconnection between the gas valve and thermostatic controlling meanswhereby the spring means may be compressed and the gas valve operatedwhen the water valve is open-in ease the temperature of the water risesabove a predetermined point, thecon- ,nection between the gas valve andthermostatic controlling means having suiiicient lost motion to normallypermit the water to operate the gas valve independent of thethermostatic controlling means.

3. The combination in an instantaneous water heater having Wtlt0IVZllVGand thermostatic controlling means and a gas valve, yielding meansbetween the operating member of the water valve and gas valve, and aconnection between the gas valve and thermostatic controlling meansWhereb the yielding means may be overcome and t e gas valve operatedwith the water valve open when the temperature of the water rises abovea predetermined point.

, thermostatic controlling i 6. The combination in a water heater havf Vr a conduit for supplying gasto the heating 3!) i I .erate to overcomewhereby the conduit valve is Operated from piston actuated by variationsof "means whereby the conduit valve is operated 4,- The combination in awater heater having an inlet and outlet, heating means, and a conduitfor supplying gas to the heating means,;of a water 'valvejactuatedb'y-varia-'--= tions of pressure vof the watena controllingmeans govrnedby the water ofv I the heater, a valve in from thewater valvethermostatic the conduit, and means whereby the conduit valve is"controlled both and from the thermostat 5. The com ination in a waterheater havan inlet and outlet, heating means, and to the heating aconduit for supplying gas ted by variameans, of a water valve actu avalve in the conduit, means whereby; the conduit valveis operated fromthewater valve, means wherebythe conduit valve' is operated from thethermostatic controlllng means, and means whereby the means" may' closethe conduit valve without moving the water valve;

ing an inlet and outlet, heating means, and means, of awater ,valveactuated by varia tions of pressure of the'water, a thermostaticcontrolling means governed by the water of the heater, a valve in theconduit, yielding from the water valve, and means whereby thethermostatic controlling means may opthe said yielding means and jclosethe conduit valve when the temvalve when perature of the water risesabove a prede-,

termined point.

7. The combination in a water heater hav- 7 ing an inlet andoutlet,.heating'means, and a conduit for supplying gas'to the heatingmeans,'of a, water valve actuated by varia-- tions of pressure of thewater, a thermostatic controlling means governed by the water of theheater, a valve in the conduit, means the water valve, means whereby theconduit valve is operated from the thermostatic controlling means, and ayielding lost motion connection whereby the thermostatic controllingmeans may close the conduit valve without moving the water valve.

8. In combination in a water heater hav ing an inlet and outlet, heatingmeans, and a conduit for supplying gas to the heating means, of a watervalve provided with a pressure of the, water, a thermostat governed bythe water, of the heater and having an operating lever, a valve in theconduit: yieldingly held closed and provided with an operating stem, aspring maintained under compression by the operating lever for closingthe conduit valve when the temperature of; the waterrises above apredetermined point, a yielding i 7' lost motion connection between thepiston and stem, and a lost motlon .connectlon be tween thestem andlever.

ftglnicombination in a water heater hav mg an inlet and outlet, heatingmeans, and a conduit'for supplying gas to the heating 1 means, ofa-water valve provided with a piston actuated by variations of pressureof the water,

the conduit spring J hel lever, a valve in closed and provided with-anoperating stem, a spring maintained under compression by theoperatinglever forv closing the -conduit I the temperature oi] the watera thermostat governed byfthe water of the heater and having an operatingrisesabove a predetermined point, a lost "motion; spring connectionbetween the piston and 'stem,"and a lost motion connection. -be tweenthe stem and lever, .the'fcombined 's strength oi? the spring forclosing the com duitvalve and that held under compression by thelever'being greater than that of the spring in the connection betweenthe piston and stem.

- '10. A controlling device for water heaters" comprisingin'combinatiom'a water valve, a gas valve adapted to be opened thereby,

means :for normally closing the said valves,

and a thermostatic controlling means arranged to close'theigas valvewithout operating the water valve. comprising in combination, a Watervalve, a gas valve adapted to be opened thereby, means for normallyclosing the said valves, a thermostatic controlling means arranged toclose the gas valve,

12. The combination with awater heater 1 heating means therefor; a meansfor regulatmg said heating; means comprlslng 'a 11. A controlling devicefor waterheaters I a yielding connection being provided between the gasvalve and thermostatic controlling means member arrangedrtovbeacted uponby water I delivered to the connected to the heater, said thermostat andwater actuated member having a common:

connection to. the heat regulatingmeansr 13. In combination, ing aninlet and outlet, heating means,-and a conduit for supplying gasthereto, of a water valve provided with as piston actuated by variationsof pressure of the water, a thermostat governed by heater and having anoperating lever, a gas valve in said conduit yieldingly held closed andprovided with an operating stem, ,a

yielding means interposed between: the

water-valve and the gas Valve and adapted to yield when the water valveand the op erating valve may be operated by the cooperation heater andva thermostat the water of the lever are actuated whereby the gas,

ina water heater hav-' of both the water valve and the thermostat 15.The combination of a water heater, a.

burner therefor, a normally closed fuel Valve, a member actuated by thewithdrawal of water-from the heater, for opening said valve and forholding it open when the temgerature of the heated water is below apreeration of said member,

etermined limit, and a thermostat causing said valve to close,independently of the opwhen the temperature of the heated water risesabove the predetermined limit.

16. The combination of a water heater, a burner therefor, a fuel valve,a water actuated member, a yieldable connection between said valve andsaid member, said member adapted to open said valve and to hold it openwhile water is being withdrawn from the heater, when the temperature ofthe water is below a predetermined limit, and a thermostat causing saidvalve to close, inde pendently of the operation of said water actuatedmember when the temperature of the water rises above said limit.

17.- The combination of a water heater, a burner therefor, a fuel valve,a water valve,

' said valves provided with stems so arranged that the opening of thewater valve by the withdrawal of water from the heater will open thefuel valve, when the temperature 0 the water is below a predeterminedlimit,

I means for closing said valves when the withy a burner therefor,

drawal of water ceases, and a thermostat causing the fuel valve toclose, independently of the operation of said water valve when thetemperature of the water rises above said limit.

18. The combination of a water heater, a a fuel valve, an automaticwater inlet valve, said valves provided with stems, so arranged that theopening of the water valve opens the fuel valve when the temperature ofthe water is below a predetermined limit, a movableember arranged toengage the fuel valve stem, and a then mostat for governing said movablemember, thereby causing the fuel valve to close irrespective of theposition of the water inlet valve, when the temperature of the water isabove said limit. a

19. In combination in a water heater having an inlet and outlet, heatingmeans, and a conduitfor supplying gas to the heating means, of a watervalve provided with a piston actuated by variations of pressure of thewater, a thermostat governed by the water of the heater and having anoperating lever, a valve in the conduit yieldingly held closed andprovided with an operating stem, a spring controlled by the operatinglever for closing the conduit valve when the temperature of the waterrises above a predetermined point, and ayielding lost motion connectionbetween said piston and stem.

20. In a water heater, the combination of a conduit for water underpressure, a burner for heating the water in said conduit, a normallyseated valve controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, a compoundpower mechanism adapted to'hold said valve closed, a device operated bythe flow of water through said conduit for controlling one part of saidpower mechanism, and a device operated by variations of temperature insaid water for controlling the other part of said mechanism.

21. In a water heater, the combination of a conduit for water underpressure, a burner for heating the water in said corduit, a normallyseated valve controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, powermechanism in the form of a plurality of springs adapted to hold saidvalve closed, a device operated by the flow of water through saidconduit for controlling one of said springs, and a device operated byvariations in temperature in said water for controlling the other ofsaid springs.

22. In a water heater, the combination of a conduit for water underpressure, a burner for heating the water in said conduit, a normallyseated valve for controlling the supply of fuel to said burner,mechanism for operating said valve, a device actuated by the flow ofwater through said conduit and a device actuated by variations oftemperature in said water, said devices governing the operation of saidmechanism, causing said valve to open when a flow of water isestablished through said conduit and the water is below a predeterminedtemperature, but causing it to remain seated or when open to move in aclosing direction when the water is above a predetermined temperature.

In testimony whereof I haverhereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribed witnesses.

GEORGE A. SHOOK.

Witnesses:

DOERING BELLINGER, HARVEY L. LECHNER.

valve through said

